Disc I01. Used02. In The Flesh03. Ashes04. Morning On Earth05. Idioglossia06. Her Voices07. Dedication08. King Of Loss09. Reconciliation10. Song For The Innocent11. Falling12. The Perfect Element13. Epilogue [Japanese bonus]

The new "Perfect Element" from Pain Of Salvation is a dark, dramatic, melodic, and masterfully intense gem of modern progressive-metal. Influences from Pink Floyd to Queensrÿche and Savatage can be heard in its sound. But even these lofty comparisons discredit the album's breathtaking originality. Pain of Salvation are real geniuses, their music is totally different, more original and unique.

I will pull an excerpt from the album to explain the story:
"'The Perfect Element, Part I' is the first half of a planned two-piece concept revolving around childhood and adolescence. What is forming us as individuals, what makes us tick, and what makes some people stop ticking, or make other people stop ticking? In a way, this is thus a classic Bildungsroman, but in this form perhaps with a bit more focus on the social and educational aspects of the forming of the individual."

From the nasty, modernized metal and sweetly engaging chorus melodies of "Used" to the moving balladry of "Ashes," the stunning, dynamic instrumental section of "Her Voices," and the spectacular, blasting outro of "Song For The Innocent," "The Perfect Element" is a deeply affecting and coherent experience. Its rich vocal performances, evocative instrumentation, memorable melodies, and striking, dynamic mood swings shape listeners' emotions as its story proceeds, never diluting its power with needlessly artsy instrumental bursts or soullessly jagged compositions.

The prior albums from Pain Of Salvation had already established them at the vanguard of modern progressive-metal; this remarkably mature "Perfect Element" is even better, a truly essential purchase for fans of powerfully dark prog and the above-named bands. Its dynamic intensity isn't broadly accessible enough to break the band into the company of, say, Spock's Beard, but their prog credibility has never been higher, and this album could well become one of the genre's classics.

This album has great quaility, but I think that the band focused only in the first tracks (by the way, great songs these tracks), and the rest is boring after a few plays. Anyway, I think this is one of PoS best albums, only below "Be".

This one makes ''One hour by the concrete lake'' look like shit. Far better.

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----member of the true crusade against old school heavy metal, early 80s thrash, NWOBHM, traditional doom, first and second wave black metal, old school death metal, US power metal, 70s prog rock and atmospheric doomsludgestoner. o/

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MechanisTAccount deleted

17.07.2011 - 22:33

MechanisTAccount deleted

Unbelievable album. Going from strength to strength with every spin I make. Slowly and steadily becoming one of the best albums I've ever heard. Period.
Excellent review.

Extremely emotional album and for me the best from Pain of Salvation. It brings some kind of nostalgia in some parts to the listener, and has some hipnotizing moments. I guess this one is "The Perfect Element" in POS discography and one of the albums of my life.